Burned in the Shower!

Posted March 14, 2003

Burned in the Shower! By B. Niskala

I became interested in X10 products when faced with a simple problem. I am married and living in a 2 family home. My in-laws live above me with their 2 children, and I have 4 children of my own. Needless to say, the washer is always going! Always going is right, especially when I am in the shower! It seems that whenever I step in the shower and get the water temperature just right, WHAM!!! The washer will kick in, draining all that beautiful cold water away and leaving the nasty burning water to scold my skin. OUCH!!! While I am usually able to hear the washer kick on, my ten-year old children are not so lucky.

X10 to the rescue! I simply installed a 3 prong appliance module (AM466), an EagleEye Motion Detector (MS14a) and a TM751 Transceiver Module. I placed the EagleEye in the shower itself, plugged the washer into the appliance module, and then placed the TM751 in the living room, in-between the 2 units.

After installing some basic home automation software, I was ready to go. The EagleEye only will transmit an "ON" signal with motion and an "OFF" without motion. This is because the "ON" signal with motion would turn on the washer. So, the software was essential in turning the "ON" signal from the EagleEye to an "OFF" signal transmitted to the washer. Simple! It works like a charm and now we do not have to shout through the house to see who is running the washer. We also no longer have to run downstairs to turn it off (which of course leaves us forgetting to turn it back on later). But most importantly, my children no longer get "washer burn!"

Thanks,
B. Niskala

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